New mothers wait almost seven months before socialising with friends, poll claims

A hot drink is a distant dream for busy mums after childbirth

A new baby will mean a huge change of lifestyle (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It takes just over three months for the average new mother to exercise again and almost seven before she gets to enjoy a night out with friends, a survey has found.

A poll of 1,500 mothers with children aged 10 years and below revealed the time it takes for women to enjoy some of their post-pregnancy perks.

While many will sip their first alcoholic drink within five months of their baby being born, new parents wait up to seven-months before they enjoy a child-free date.

Busy mothers will also go five weeks before they can eventually sit and finish a hot drink before it goes cold.

Nine in 10 respondents said life had changed in ways unimagined since having a baby.

“Having a baby is one of the most life-changing things that will happen to you," said a spokesperson for Matalan, which commissioned the poll. “No matter how much you read about it or talk to other parents, you never really know what to expect.

“Many of the things we used to do without giving them a second thought before having children suddenly become more difficult and many mums will have a mini celebration when they do so for the first time again after giving birth. Although many milestones are small, they can go a long way to helping mums feel they are ‘getting back to normal’."

The poll also found it takes just over a week for new mothers to get the hang of putting the baby seat in their car and collapsing the pram without issues and just over five weeks will pass before they get to sit down to watch a TV show or film uninterrupted.

It will also be six weeks before nervous mothers feel they can quickly visit the toilet without taking their baby in too.

For sleep-deprived new parents, the average new mum said it took six months to enjoy her very first lie-in after giving birth, and eight-and-a-half months before she could indulge in a proper eight-hour sleep.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent of respondents said they are still waiting for that allusive full night of sleep.

It also emerged new mothers will go more than four months before enjoying a relaxing shower or bath and just under five months before new parents are happy to let a friend or relative look after their baby.

When it comes to fitting into those pre-pregnancy jeans, the average new mother believes they will be back into their old clothes within five months of giving birth. Meanwhile, others say it will take seven months for them to feel "back to normal" after becoming a parent.

After hitting certain 'Mummy Milestones,' researchers found 32 per cent of mums admit they compared the timings with other mothers, 55 per cent shared the achievement with their partner and 22 per cent happily broadcast the news on social media.

Reaching a milestone in parenting had a positive impact on 58 per cent of mothers who said they felt "happy" about reaching such goals. Meanwhile, 25 per cent said they felt "relieved" and a further 20 per cent felt "sad."

SWNS